Norwell football falls to Rockland in South Shore League opener

The Norwell High School football team’s modest two-game winning streak came to an end Saturday as the Clippers were shut out, 7-0, at home against Rockland.

Rick Seto

The Norwell High School football team’s modest two-game winning streak came to an end Saturday as the Clippers were shut out, 7-0, at home against Rockland.

In the teams’ South Shore League opener, the Bulldogs (1-3) scored on their second possession of the second half when Billy Brady made an excellent catch while falling backward into the end zone. Matt Nicholson delivered the 29-yard pass and kicked the extra point with 4:11 left in the third quarter.

Norwell (2-2) managed only 70 total yards in 42 offensive plays. The closest the hosts came to scoring was on a failed 30-yard field goal attempt by George Trebino with 1:24 left in the first quarter.

The deepest the Clippers got into opposing territory in the second half was the Rockland 20 after Peter Ricciuti connected with Dan Hilson on a 35-yard completion. That drive ended with Ricciuti throwing the fourth of his five second-half interceptions.

The NHS defense gave up 222 yards on 49 plays, but did record 13 tackles for negative yardage. Senior Sean Tierney recorded an interception, keeping Norwell’s streak of having at least one pick in each of its four games this season.

This ill-tempered game ended with 10 penalties, six of which were on Norwell – including three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.